JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is trying to offer Democrats and the media political wisdom about Donald Trump.Speaking on CBNC's "Squawk Box‚" Dimon warned on Wednesday that constantly attacking Trump‚ his supporters‚ and the "Make America Great Again" agenda will ultimately backfire on President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party."I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden's election campaign‚" Dimon predicted. "I wish the Democrats would think a little more carefully when they talk about MAGA."The billionaire banker was referring to the Democratic Party's habit of mocking Trump supporters as "deplorable" or simple-minded Americans who hug "their Bibles and their beer and their guns.""Can we stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people respectfully and listen to them a little bit?" Dimon said. "I think people should be a little more respectful of our fellow citizens."In fact‚ Dimon suggested those in the media need to be more introspective and they need try to understand why so many Americans support Trump. For Dimon — who personally identifies as someone with a "Democrat heart and a Republican brain" — the reasons why Americans support Trump are clear: Trump "wasn't wrong" about some of the most pressing issues impacting America and the world today."When people say MAGA‚ they're actually looking at people voting for Trump and they're basically scapegoating them — that you are like him — but I don't think they're voting for Trump because of his family values‚" Dimon said."If you just take a step back‚ be honest: He's kind of right about NATO. Kind of right about immigration. He grew the economy quite well‚" he explained. "Tax reform worked. He was right about some with China. I don't like how he said things about Mexico— but he wasn't wrong about some of these critical issues. And that's why they're voting for him." During his interview‚ Dimon also provided his economic forecast and warned against wearing rose-colored glasses."I think it is a mistake to assume that everything is hunky-dory‚" he said. "When stock markets are up‚ it's kind of like this little drug we all feel‚ like it's just great‚" he continued. "But remember‚ we've had so much fiscal monetary stimulation so I'm a little more on the cautious side that we are facing a lot of things in '24 or '25 and we mentioned Ukraine‚ the terrorist activity in Israel‚ the Red Sea‚ quantitative tightening ... and obviously the politics." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

I was walking down an unpaved road with $180 in cash in my pocket‚ going deeper and deeper into industrial nothingness. I hadn’t trekked into this void on the wrong side of the tracks to buy an experimental drug or pay off a hit man. No‚ I was reduced to this walk of shame because I had forgotten it was street cleaning day — and now I was on a lonely hike to retrieve my impounded automobile. I was already brimming with resentment toward the towing company employees I would soon encounter. Sure enough‚ I was soon faced with a variety of Bostonian discourtesy I was sure rising rents had killed off long ago — a brutishness so strong that it made me grotesquely proud of my city. The ill-mannered clerk snatched my twenties as if I had stolen them minutes before and waved me toward my car. I found it parked‚ no doubt intentionally‚ between two large potholes filled with rainwater. A desire to change plans and place a hit after all sank in. Or‚ if not that‚ the only form of vengeance the situation allowed: a one-star‚ or perhaps even no-star‚ review. _____ Unsurprisingly‚ that particular towing company already showed poorly on Google’s review platform. Tales abound of stolen GPS systems‚ brusque workers‚ and the inconvenience of the back-alley location. What‚ I wondered‚ could possibly make for a positive experience with a towing company — much less this one? But there it was: a five-star opinion‚ drawing the manager’s grateful reply. “Karen‚ thank you for the review here at B&;B Towing we strive on making people satisfied being in this type of business we don’t get to many good reviews thanks again.” No punctuation‚ no spell-check. A kind of pity welled up within me. I thought twice about leaving that one-star review of my own. Like all of us‚ I know the score: That one deadly star can spell doom. I won’t patronize a bar or restaurant — and certainly won’t hire an electrician or lawyer — without checking reviews on Google first. I know on this count I’m not alone‚ even as others may prefer Yelp or a similar clearinghouse. But the truth is that in our lives‚ we often find ourselves interacting with entities without much choice in the matter. I had no choice who towed my car; earlier this year‚ I found myself waiting eight months for a tax refund without the IRS so much as deigning to pick up the phone; similarly‚ I have found myself working with obvious crooks while buying a fridge out of a lack of local options and subjected to low-rated Uber drivers at two in the morning because no one else was around to accept my request after the metro stopped running. In 2016‚ an iPhone app called Peeple caught the attention of the internet when it launched with the promise to be‚ well‚ “Yelp for people.” The idea was that just like your local coffee shop‚ local people — your neighbors‚ friends‚ a guy you went on a date with once — should also be personally subjected to crowdsourced reviews. The public reacted with disbelief and anger to this obviously terrible idea‚ and Peeple soon disappeared‚ first from the App Store‚ then from the world. But businesses — and their employees — already live in a version of the hell that would have been Peeple‚ with reviews and ratings playing the role of a demon to whom you’ve sold your soul: vital to your success‚ instrumental in your failure. Two-thirds of consumers consult reviews before buying a product; positive reviews‚ in turn‚ make people three times more likely to make that purchase‚ according to CBC news. At a time when online cynicism is hurting scammers’ prospects‚ review scams can still be a lucrative venture‚ for both businesses and the scammers themselves. This past summer‚ various highbrow restaurants around the U.S. saw their reviews suddenly tank. Shortly‚ they received disgruntled emails from the scammers demanding Google Play gift cards as ransom. Otherwise‚ the emails threatened‚ the aggrieved would continue to post a new batch of death-tier reviews every day. (“The fact is that we live in India and see no other way to survive‚” the emails read‚ as reported by Bon Appetit.) Fake reviews‚ however‚ are not only negative. Businesses are regularly accused of pumping fake reviews to increase traffic. As reported by Bloomberg‚ one estimate found a staggering 42% of Amazon reviews to be fake‚ inflating the ratings on inferior products. This year‚ in the first instance of its kind‚ the Federal Trade Commission settled with the brand Fashion Nova‚ accused of buying scores of positive reviews and suppressing negative ones‚ for $4.2 million. _____ To see how easy it would be to get a stack of fake reviews myself‚ I joined some Facebook groups that openly offer a forum for people to buy and sell them. In these groups‚ both positive and negative reviews are fair game. I decided my target would be my hometown public transit service. Over the years‚ its long wait times and frequent breakdowns have earned me more than enough legitimate reason to whine. Anyway‚ I thought‚ it would surely be harder to tank than a struggling small business — even one I hated‚ like the towing company. One reviewer quickly got back to me. For two dollars apiece — a price which honestly seemed a bit high — he would draft as many reviews as I wanted and post them to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority headquarters. Sure enough‚ when I checked the profile the next day‚ five new one-star reviews rose to the top‚ bringing the total score from a 3.3 to a 3.1. “I not like it‚” went the most descriptive — another simply said “Bad.” These were not going to cause a sharp drop in ridership‚ that was for sure. None of them were even as funny or effective as what seemed to be a very real review‚ left just the day before‚ that said: “They should give mbta the Nobel price for the lousy service‚ in short we are paying people who are incompetent.” Now that’s how to write a zinger. Unfortunately‚ even those moribund reviews didn’t last. While the one about the Nobel prize stayed posted‚ the five that I had paid for disappeared within two days. The MBTA returned to its 3.3-star rating‚ and I went to my reviewer to complain. It turned out he was new to this game. He used his earnings from two steady clients to finance his lodging and studies in Pakistan as a fourth-year student. He needed more customers‚ but it was a start — and easy to do from home to boot. When I asked him whether he regretted the effects of his work‚ he told me he felt bad but that “this is business.” He continued‚ “You know everyone needs money and I get money after my hard work. Nobody gives money without work.” Google‚ when reached for comment‚ pointed me toward a blog post that celebrated the company's efforts during the pandemic to crack down on fake reviews. “Thanks to a combination of machine learning and human operators‚ we continue to decrease the amount of content seen on Maps that is fraudulent or abusive – in fact‚ it’s less than one percent of all the content that is viewed on Maps‚” the post reads. The representative did not answer my questions about review scammers specifically‚ or whether the company has changed policies after the restaurant ransom scandal. Nonetheless‚ to my chagrin‚ the filters — whether machine or human — had seemed to work perfectly at disappearing each of the five reviews that I myself had purchased. _____ If all reviews are a waste of time — corrupted by scams‚ incentivized by businesses‚ and generally untrustworthy — reviews of the most hated entities in American life should be at the pinnacle of worthlessness. But the hostility toward these places and the lack of a motive to lie make for Google reviews imbued with a poetry born from pure feeling. Near to my own heart‚ one John Wolfe calls Pat’s Towing in Somerville‚ Mass.‚ a “dirty business run by toad-like men possessed of a base cunning that they will use to squeeze you for every penny they can.” But even the vilest towing company has fierce competition for hate. The IRS office in Austin‚ for instance‚ sits at a grisly 1.3 stars‚ and the reviews are filled with complaints of delayed tax refunds and unresponsive staff. One Aissa Aoussar unloads her personal brand of experimental verse in one of the many one-star reviews‚ along with the last four digits of her Social Security number for anyone on the internet to read: ““my question is if i didnt get refund by next week‚ iam going to file a smal lawsuit to 9th Court Manchester‚NH against your IRS for investigation may be my refund been stolen by government worker or someone using Fraud or abuse.” Add some line breaks and it's William Carlos Williams. Rikers Island‚ the notorious New York City jail‚ hovers at 3.2‚ its rating buoyed by parody five-star reviews extolling the view of the skyline. But among them are reviews that are much more self-serious‚ left‚ ostensibly‚ by people who have actually been there. One‚ written by a man named Dominic‚ complains of the correction officers’ collusion with certain inmates and the unfair treatment he received there. One of Yelp’s guiding company “values” is authenticity. The company writes‚ “Tell the truth. Be straightforward. Over-communicate. No need to spin things.” But what does being “authentic” mean on a five-star scale? We know from being internet users that a three-star review does not mean “acceptable” or “good” or whatever the review engines would have us believe — for that matter‚ they know it too. Uber drivers‚ for example‚ risk getting deactivated from the platform with a rating lower than a 4.6 (though the company has never confirmed the exact number). The real star rating scale for pretty much anything online‚ it seems to me‚ is quite different from what the apps tell us when we use them: 4.0-4.2 is fine‚ 4.3-4.6 is pretty good‚ 4.7-4.9 is excellent‚ and a perfect five is more than a little suspicious. Though these particular number breaks are my own‚ the fact is that we all subconsciously know and converge on something like them‚ which is also why just a few one-star reviews can sink a business’s chances at success. Frequent and infrequent reviewers alike are all stuck in this ecosystem where anything less than five stars — as customer help-line reps begging for superlative ratings will say — is a failure. Though we avoided the dystopia of Peeple‚ we skulk amid our necessity to be constantly evaluating — and evaluating‚ for the most part‚ dishonestly. Maybe‚ then‚ reviews of towing companies‚ jails‚ and IRS offices are closer to that idealistic notion of “authenticity” espoused by Yelp in the first place. No one who writes a genuine review of Rikers Island believes that anything will change there‚ ever — no manager is jumping into the Google comments to offer a free drink on return visit. Instead‚ the review system can finally provide what it’s supposed to: a place to be honest‚ to complain full-throatedly‚ without any expectation that someone will ever read it or change their mind. There is no hope of convincing people‚ no risk of bombing search results for a local business that maybe just had an off night. The IRS will continue operating despite its 1.3 rating; my scammer’s five reviews of the MBTA will make no difference to anyone. Is it here‚ in the internet’s most voidlike spaces‚ that we can feel most at home? Those reviews‚ by the way‚ are back up. My favorite new one — an allegation? a confession? — reads simply: “Scammer.”

Sunday Night Football on NBC edited out Christian quarterback C.J. Stroud's faith proclamation in a video interview posted to X after his Houston Texans' Wild Card playoff victory over the weekend.What are the details?Here's how the interview went on the live broadcast‚ as Kathryn Tappen asked Stroud‚ "What does this moment mean?"“First and foremost‚ I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior‚ Jesus Christ‚” the rookie signal caller replied.He added: “I mean‚ it’s been amazing being in this city for as short [a time] as I’ve been‚ but the love that I’ve got — I’ve really just been doing it for Houston‚ man‚ people back home. I’m blessed to be in the position that I am and blessed enough to be playing at a high level right now. And we’ve got to just keep it going. But I’m super blessed.”At the end of the interview‚ which lasted less than a minute‚ Stroud told Tappen‚ “Thank you‚ God bless.” — (@) Now let's roll the tape of the interview as it appeared on the X post from Sunday Night Football on NBC. The clip runs with Tappen's preamble and then her key question‚ "What does this moment mean?But does it continue — like the live broadcast — with Stroud's faith proclamation? Nope. The NBC clip contains a clear edit‚ with the camera angle jumping to a closeup and leaving his shout-out to Jesus Christ on the cutting-room floor: — (@) How are folks reacting?One might argue that the thrust of the clip posted to X has to do with Stroud's good vibes for Houston‚ as the post's caption reads that he "has a lot of love for his city." But not everyone is buying that‚ apparently.Here are some of the comments underneath the Sunday Night Football on NBC's post:"You thought people wouldn't notice that you edited out Stroud's statement of faith and gratitude‚ but we have the receipts‚" Citizen Free Press said.Another commenter sarcastically wondered what were "the first words out of his mouth from the interview? Must’ve been a glitch.""They censored this man's words‚" another user declared. "NBC sucks.""You should have just not posted this clip at all‚" another commenter said. "To edit out his statement of faith in Jesus Christ just makes you look awful and even bigoted."Another user dropped a big bomb‚ saying the SNF "edited" Stroud's faith proclamation — "but would love if he was promoting sex changes on kids.""Why would you edit the video to not show the part of him thanking Jesus Christ!!! Sad‚ sad world we live in‚" another commenter wrote before adding a reference to Philippians 2:10. "Every knee shall bow.""Shame on y’all‚" another user noted."Why cut out the part where he thanked God?" another commenter asked. "Maybe that’s why no one trusts mainstream media anymore….""I had to come look to see if it was true. Insane that you would edit the first words he said about Jesus‚" another user wrote. "Gross."Anything else?In the Texans' 45-14 rout of the favored Cleveland Browns‚ Stroud tied or set records for completion percentage (76.2%)‚ passer rating (157.2)‚ touchdown passes (3)‚ and margin of victory (31) by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game‚ CBS Sports said.In November‚ Blaze News drew a stark comparison between words from Stroud and words from women's soccer icon Megan Rapinoe delivered on the same weekend. Rapinoe complained that her "f***ed-up" injury — which forced her early exit from her final game ever — is "proof" that God doesn't exist. But Stroud once again proclaimed his faith in God after the Texans' last-second 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.(H/T: Western Journal)Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Donald Trump’s supporters are elated over the results of the Iowa caucuses‚ understandably so. Their chosen one secured a 51% majority of the vote on Monday. Among my colleagues‚ the prevailing sentiment now is that MAGA is unbeatable.Maybe. But I’d like to challenge my ideological allies to answer some questions about the path forward that portends anything but the dominance of MAGA or what it appears to represent. If MAGA is really such a juggernaut‚ why can’t the movement even guarantee Trump will appoint a decent running mate?On paper‚ those who despise the Republican Party establishment should be pleased with the results from Iowa. Whether you supported Trump‚ Ron DeSantis‚ or Vivek Ramaswamy‚ you voted against the establishment. Whether those candidates have a solid record of results against the establishment or would alter the status quo is a different story. But in politics‚ perception is often reality. None of Trump’s voters went out in subzero temperatures and icy roads on Monday to vote for Trump because of Jared Kushner‚ Anthony Fauci‚ Steven Mnuchin‚ the CARES Act‚ “Operation Warp Speed‚” or all of the bad budget bills Trump signed. The opposite is true. They perceive — wrongly or rightly — that Trump will fight the malevolent forces that those personnel picks and policies represent. Thus we can say that 81% of Iowa Republican voters — at least in their minds — cast ballots aligned with our worldview and not that of Mitch McConnell. It might even be more than 81% because a good chunk of Nikki Haley’s voters were Democrats who registered that evening just to crash the other party’s caucus.So the obvious question Trump and his supporters must answer is this: Eight years into MAGA’s supposed dominance‚ why do the party’s policies and leadership at almost every level still reflect the position of the 19% and not the 81%?We might have heard a good answer to that question if we had a real debate and a real contest between Trump and DeSantis. We could have delved into why Trump kept endorsing milquetoast Republicans in down-ballot elections‚ backed the likes of McConnell‚ Paul Ryan‚ Kevin McCarthy‚ and Ronna McDaniel for leadership positions‚ picked globalist cabinet members‚ and undermined us on nearly every budget and must-pass bill – even before getting to COVID. Perhaps we could have gotten to the bottom of why the 19% (at most) still dominate the 81% despite Trump being the undisputed leader of the party — along with its media apparatus — for eight years. Many of my colleagues in this industry shielded Trump from hard questions. They excused his disrespect for the voters just like they excused the bad positions he took during his presidency. So here we are. They broke it. Now they own it. As such‚ anyone who is part of the 81% should demand that those who share our values and have Trump’s ear get answers to key questions that should have been raised on a public debate stage.1) How will Congress change? The simple fact is we’ve gone backward when it comes to winning primaries against the GOP establishment since 2016. In down-ballot races for Senate‚ House‚ and governor‚ Nikki Haley’s worldview is the rule‚ not the exception. Milquetoast Republicans continue to win‚ often with Trump’s support. Every globalist incumbent appears on track for a bigger win in their primaries than Trump managed in Iowa. What is the plan‚ if any‚ for Trump to change his endorsement practices? What is his plan as president to use must-pass bills and demand changes even at the risk of a government shutdown? Trump already told CNN he would only oppose raising the debt ceiling as a candidate‚ not as a president. Good to know! So what will change? 2) How will Trump’s personnel change? Name the competent anti-establishment figures who will join the next administration. Trump’s downfall was due to nearly every Cabinet pick embodying the attributes and worldview rejected by his base‚ from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Defense Secretary James Mattis all the way down. Trump surrounds himself with the likes of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Laura Loomer — and no‚ Loomer isn’t getting into the Cabinet.During his victory speech on Monday‚ Trump stood side by side with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and suggested he would serve in a potential second-term administration. That would likely mean Burgum would land in the Department of Energy. Does Trump not know that Burgum is a stereotypical World Economic Forum politician who pledged in his last State of the State address to make North Dakota “carbon neutral”? Burgum would have run as a Democrat in another state‚ but knew he had to run as a Republican in North Dakota. He bought himself a governorship by pretending to be one of us. Now‚ he might run for a third term. He has gone out of his way to oppose conservatives — mainly Trump supporters — in his state’s legislature. He is the type of politician Trump should target for defeat. Yet Trump wants to elevate him. People with Trump’s ear should work to ensure that all the establishment hacks endorsing him in droves (and “saying nice things about him”) are not rewarded with prominent positions once again.3) How will Trump ensure a MAGA vice presidential nominee? Will Trump commit to not appointing Nikki Haley or someone similar to her as his running mate? Lara Trump and senior adviser Jason Miller already floated the idea of Haley as a running mate‚ and neither of the candidates has ruled out the possibility. Will Trump’s supporters make it clear to him that people like Haley and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (who is indistinguishable from Haley on policy) are not acceptable running mates? If MAGA is really such a juggernaut‚ why can’t the movement even guarantee Trump will appoint a decent running mate?The reality is that this year’s pick will be the most consequential vice presidential candidate of all time. Given his age‚ there is a chance that Trump might not complete a full term. So his choice for vice president will be on the inside track as the new party leader. To this day‚ America is paying for Ronald Reagan’s decision to tap George Bush as his running mate. Republicans must not make the same mistake again. 4) How can Trump ensure victory in November? The same public polling data that shows Trump’s commanding support in the primary spells doom for him in the general election. Most Americans still do not realize how corrupt our legal system has become‚ and they view a conviction as proof of guilt. It is nearly impossible that Trump won’t be convicted on at least one of the 91 criminal charges against him by a deep blue city jury. The Iowa entrance poll showed 32% of Republican voters would not support Trump in the general election if he were a convicted felon. Although this is extremely unfair‚ what that means is that 10%-15% will follow through and not vote for him. And if those are the numbers among Republicans‚ you can imagine what independent voters will think! It would be a down-ballot wipeout not seen since Barry Goldwater’s crushing loss to Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. 5) How can Trump build a winning campaign? With Biden raising a ton of cash and the Democrats’ near-impervious early voting and ballot-harvesting operations‚ any Republican would have trouble winning a national election this year. With Trump sidelined by his legal fights‚ forced to siphon off money for attorneys’ fees‚ and no ground game to speak of‚ how can he win? Even the most uninspiring incumbent Republicans win their primaries based on name ID and party support. General elections are a different story. Putting out videos from Mar-a-Lago or holding rallies for staunch supporters will not cut it. Trump himself has already talked down the prospect of building a ballot-harvesting network‚ and there is no evidence he or his handpicked RNC chairwoman are starting one. Republicans have continued to disappoint in turnout throughout regular and special elections over the past few years and have consistently underperformed the polling averages by as much as 10 points. There are probably several reasons for this‚ and they all need to be addressed‚ but clearly‚ the lack of a get-out-the-vote operation relative to Democrats is harming us. What is the plan? 6) How can Trump deliver a reckoning for COVID and the kill shots? To this day‚ Trump believes he did nothing wrong during COVID. He even touts Operation Warp Speed as one of his greatest accomplishments. We badly need a reckoning on this issue. We also need the shots and the entire technology behind them banned‚ indemnity for vaccine makers removed‚ and a vaccine commission established to audit the existing shots on the market — a proposition Trump himself backed away from at the behest of Bill Gates.While Trump is transactional‚ it’s hard to get through to someone who views the shots as his most enduring legacy. What is the plan of his closest supporters‚ many of whom claim to believe the vaccines are responsible for mass death‚ to hold Trump to account? Too often‚ when conservatives have questions about both the policy and electoral viability of the establishment GOP candidate in a given Senate or gubernatorial race‚ we are immediately silenced. “Shut up‚ we have to beat the Democrats‚” is the standard refrain. But this is not October. This is January. We deserve answers‚ and those who most emphatically support Trump yet claim to share our objectives have an obligation to solicit them from him.

A Missouri homeowner shot an alleged burglar five times during a middle-of-the-night altercation over the weekend‚ and the male who apparently tried breaking into the Qulin home died days later.What are the details?Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said deputies responded to a home on Strawberry Lane around 3 a.m. Saturday for a report of a person shot‚ KFVS-TV reported.Arriving deputies were told an intruder tried to break into the home‚ and the homeowner shot him five times‚ the station said.The suspect — later identified as 37-year-old Darren Venneman of Chanute‚ Kansas — was airlifted to a Memphis hospital where he died Tuesday morning‚ KFVS said.Dobbs said the homeowner has not been charged because he acted in self-defense‚ the station said.How are folks reacting?Commenters reacting to the KFVS story about the shooting posted on Facebook seem decidedly aligned with the homeowner:"Excellent!!" one commenter declared. "Good for that homeowner!""My sympathies for the homeowner. We are in the south. Most of us will use deadly force to protect our homes and families — and we are prepared to do just that‚" another user said. "But having to do it is not an easy thing.""Try that in a small town!!" another commenter exclaimed."And this is why we need guns. Police can't always be there in [a] nick of time‚" another user observed. "Besides...this is how we thin the herd.""Don’t break in[to] a house that isn’t yours if you want to live‚" another commenter stated. "I hate when the news make[s] the person in the wrong to be the victim.""Bet he won't do that again‚" another user said‚ tongue firmly in cheek‚ apparently. "People are fed up. Don't be out trying to rob folks. We will protect what's ours‚ no if ands or buts about it.""Play stupid games &; win stupid prizes!!!!" another commenter wrote. "Good for the homeowner."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When it comes to the world of firearms and the Second Amendment‚ there is an obvious Big Tech bias toward the industry. Facebook and Google have onerous rules and regulations‚ making it difficult for gun manufacturers to advertise to potential customers. This blanket ban extends to hunting and even ammunition. It’s another example of the censorship our Big Tech overlords exert over our society. Because so much of our purchases and research takes place online‚ it makes it harder for consumers to make educated choices about which firearms to purchase. Fortunately‚ capitalism abhors a vacuum‚ especially in the lucrative sector of firearms manufacturing‚ which is estimated to be worth over $50 billion annually. Stepping into this void is Ibrahim Pataudi. He’s created Armanet‚ a specialized programmatic advertising network aimed at sectors like firearms‚ hunting‚ outdoor activities‚ defense‚ and related fields.With major social media and ad-tech platforms withdrawing from this niche‚ it became challenging for publishers to monetize effectively and for advertisers to use advanced targeting and analytics to track their return on investment.Armanet addresses this gap by establishing a network of relevant websites and a purely programmatic ad marketplace‚ benefiting publishers and advertisers.Pataudi‚ an immigrant to America‚ was raised by a father who introduced him to hunting from a young age. “One of my earliest memories is duck hunting. My father was and continues to be a fanatical hunter‚ so from a very early age‚ I fell in love with it. It's what I love to do with my free time; I sleep it‚ I dream it‚ I eat it. God bless America for the opportunities it provides outdoorsmen.” After attending Claremont Mckenna College in California‚ Pataudi moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in Silicon Valley. His love of firearms and hunting led him to realize an underserved market existed. Pataudi realized his digital advertising experience could be utilized to help these companies‚ which is how Armanet came about. He explained that in a saturated market like firearms‚ advertising to consumers and tracking analytics is vitally important. “Brands became heavily reliant on‚ on influencers. I love all these personalities online‚ and I watch their videos. But‚ measurement becomes a problem‚ and scale becomes a problem‚” he explains. Since launching‚ Armanet has achieved significant milestones‚ including becoming the largest ad network in its niche‚ with approximately 50 million monthly impressions. It has enabled effective monetization of previously unsold ad inventory for publishers‚ including Pew Pew Tactical. “So what we have built effectively is the largest pool of firearm enthusiasts that can be reached online anywhere‚ full stop‚” Pataudi added. Pataudi explained the frustrations around the censorship this industry has faced from digital advertising giants but is hopeful about the ingenious solutions companies like his and others can come up with. “I think it is‚ it is concerning that an entire industry can effectively be choked because there's such a stranglehold on online advertising. But at the same time‚ you know‚ this is America; companies are free to do what they want. And that's a beautiful thing because if that weren't true‚ then we wouldn't exist.”It’s a true American success story and proof that there is hope for circumventing the societal controls Big Tech wants to impose on our way of life. You can learn more about Armanet by visiting its website.

The news has been rife with talk of Donald Trump and the other Republican candidates as of late — but there is another candidate running who shouldn’t be forgotten. “There is another candidate that is still running‚ and is still running as an anti-deep state guy‚ who does have some momentum‚” Dave Rubin explains. That candidate is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‚ and he’s recently given one of the most inspiring‚ important speeches of any candidate yet. “We are told today that our nation is hopelessly divided‚ but I found something different as I travel this country‚” RFK told his audience. “I’ve come here today to declare our independence from the tyranny of corruption‚ which robs us of affordable lives‚ our belief in the future‚ and our respect for each other.” “But to do that‚” he continued‚ “I must first declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic party and from all other political parties.” In his speech‚ RFK promised that as president he would be “free of partisan allegiance” and a “servant only to my conscience‚ to my creator‚ and to you.” Kennedy ended his speech to the crowd chanting‚ “I declare my independence!” Rubin believes that Kennedy not only has a chance‚ but his candidacy should push Donald Trump to be better. “I have more disagreements politically with RFK than I do with Trump‚” Rubin explains‚ “I’m just saying I think this is a moment now where we can sort of push all of these guys — Donald Trump in particular — to be a little bit better.” Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations‚ free speech‚ and big ideas with Dave Rubin‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Canada tends to lead the charge when it comes to woke nonsense. Apparently‚ the country deems asking questions a form of assault‚ even when the person making the inquiries is a reporter. Last week‚ Rebel News reporter David Menzies was arrested by an RCMP officer after he attempted to ask Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland questions regarding why Canada has opted to omit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its terrorist list. “She could’ve ignored them‚ but instead‚ a bunch of her bodyguards jumped him and charged him with assault‚” Rebel News founder Ezra Levant tells Alex Stein. In the video footage‚ one can clearly see Menzies approaching Freeland with a microphone. However‚ he never touches her or even blocks her path. Menzies manages to ask two questions‚ both of which go unanswered‚ before a group of officers forcefully grab him and push him against the wall claiming he’s under arrest for assault. “How am I under arrest? You bumped into me‚” Menzies said to one officer as handcuffs were placed on his wrists. “You pushed into me‚ sir‚” the officer responded — a textbook example of gaslighting. “He never touched her!” says Alex in disbelief. “Is verbal assault a charge?” “In the end‚ they dropped the charge‚” says Levant. However‚ “the weirdest part is [the cops] drive away but they don't take him to the police station; they just dump him off in some school parking lot and say find your own way back.” "I was a super pro-back the blue guy‚" but after "what I've seen...they are testing my pro-cop ideology‚" he sighs. Clearly‚ many share Levant's sentiments‚ as the video has now garnered several million views. Check it out for yourself below. Want more from Alex Stein?To enjoy more of Alex's culture jamming‚ comedic monologues‚ skits‚ and street segments‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

"It took me a long time to get a record deal and be successful‚ but I was luckier than a lot of people. I knew what I was when I was 12 years old" The post Steve Earle Interview: The Return of the Outlaw appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Warframe is getting bigger and better than ever over a decade after its initial launch‚ now sitting as the top-selling game on Steam. That's right‚ the multiplayer shooter has beat out the likes of Counter-Strike 2‚ the long-reigning king of Valve's charts. After a multitude of award wins and expansion releases‚ Digital Extremes' free-to-play game stands as a beloved icon‚ now with an impressive position on the Steam charts to back it up. Continue reading Warframe overtakes Counter-Strike 2 as Steam’s top-selling game MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck‚ Warframe builds‚ Warframe system requirements